Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



J. H. MERRILL. BRBBGH LOADING FIREARM.

No. 32,033. Patented Apr. 9, 1861.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. MERRILL, OF BALTIMORE, lillARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MERRILL PATENT FIRE ARMS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT 1m BR-EECH LOADlNG FIRE-ARMS.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 32,033, dated April 9, 1861.

To all whom it may concern: the gun, as shown in Figs. 1. and 2. On this Be it known that I, JAMES H. MERRILL, of I lever A, at a point opposite the nipple when the city of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, the lever is let down, there-is a projection, a, have invented certain new and useful Improveuponwhich the hammer B rests when it is let ments in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms; and I do down, and to allow the-hammer to come down hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, upon this projection without battering itself and exact description of the same,reference beor the projection a recess, 0, may be made on ing had to the accompanying drawings, makthe side oi' thehammer that will catch the pro ing a part of this specification, in whichjection just at the moment the hammer strikes Figures 1 and 2 represent sectional drawthe cap or nipple; and as this takes place a ings of a portionof abreech-loading-gun, and moment before theexplosion of the cartridge Figs. 3 and 4 represent detached portions, of it adds another resisting-point, in addition to which Fig. 3 shows more especially the nature those specially provided, against the rising of of this invention. the lever; but its special office is to prevent.

In the use of breech-loading guns, where the the lever from rising when by accident the breech is closed by a plugor...other device,and spring-catch b. is disconnected bybeing struck the lever that actuates such device is held in or touched by any object, for when the hamits shut position by a spring-catch, which for .merB is resting upon the projection 11 the convenience must have some prominent prowhole power of the mainspring of the lock jection on it to enable the user to readily raise will resist such result ortendency torise and or throw it backto open the charging-chamopen up the bore of the gunand drop out the ber,it is found that the spring-catch is somecartridge.

times sprung open by being struck or touched On the projection a there is asecond proaby a twig, or by coming in contact with the jection, 2, that sets in close to the nipple an person of the user, and when this happens, low enough down toward the root of the nipshould the gun be reversed, as often happens ple as not to interfere with the placing of the when the user is onhorseback,thecartridge will cap thereon; and when the cap is placed on drop out. To avoid this contingency is the the nipple this projection 2 is below it. Then object of this invention; and the nature of the gun is discharged and is to be reloaded, the invention consists in forming a projection the hammer is raised to half-cock, the lever A upon that side 'of the main lever next the hamis then raised up, andthe act of raising causes mer that will admit of the hammer resting the projection 2 to throw off the exploded cap; upon it when the hammer is down, and thus WVhen the plug is drawn backor the rear of prevent said lever from rising until the the barrelopened, the cartridge is dropped hammer is first raised up or brought to half? into the chamber, the lever brought down, cock, or nearly so, unless it. rises against the which runs the cartridge home in the bore. force of the mainspring of the lock, which no 'l he cap may then he put onto the nipple and ordinary circumstance could effect; 7 and my theh'ammer let down onto the cap, (or if preinvention further consists in combining withferred the hammer may be let. down without the main lever another projection, which fits the cap and the cap put on just previous to down close to the nipple and underneath the firing,) in which case the hammer aids the cap,so that when the lever is raised to recharge catch to hold the leverin place, and will hold the gun this projection will throw off the exit even when the spring-catchs loosened by loded cap, which often sticks to the nipple any accident, and prevents the breech from and retards rapid loading and firing. being opened until the hammer is raised.

To enable others skilled in the art to make I have represented the two projections a and and use my invention, I will proceed to de- 2 as being in one piece, or rather as the latter scribe the same with reference to the drawings, being a continuation of the former. I do not Fig. 3. v desire to be understood as expressly claiming A. represents the main lever that actuates them when so made or used, for one may be the plug for closing and opening the breech of used without the other, and I may sometimes so use them. Again, the two projections may be used, each one separately made and connected to the lever,instead of being one a prolongation of the other. These diii'erent plans I have studiedout, and do not restrict myself to but asingle application of the principle, as it admits of change. The idea is to have the hammer or the power of the mainspring of the lock to help hold the lever down, and, secondly, to have an automatic device connected with the main lever that will throw off the exploded cap from the nipple.

Having thus fully described the nature and object of my invention, What I claim therein as new-1s 1. In combination with the lever by which the breech is opened and closed, a projection upon or over which the hani'merrests when down upon the nipple, to prevent said lever from rising or opening the breech accidentally, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the lever by which the breech of the gun is opened and closed, a projection which extends under the cap when on the nipple, so that the raising of said lever preparatory to recharging the gun shall throw off the exploded cap and leave the nipple free for afresh cap, substantially as described.

JAMES H. MERRILL.

Witnesses:

DAVID CARSON, P. W. THOMAS. 

